ALOR STAR – The proposal for Kedah to export ketum is not an encouragement for residents to start planting but a bid to resolve smuggling, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
Sanusi said in a press conference that the proposal by the state Economic Planning Unit will be presented to Putrajaya after being tabled to the state.
“My advice, don’t plant ketum. We export only the existing ones (ketum). That too, if allowed by the government.
“I am not telling the people to plant them. I just want us to export the existing stock, because we have a lot of ketum in Kedah, but it is currently being smuggled.
“The state government only wants to resolve the issue of ketum smuggling through export,” he told reporters at Wisma Darul Aman today.
Kedah has an estimated 84,577 ketum trees over 140ha.
Padang Terap district recorded the widest area of 94.36ha, followed by Pendang (30.5ha), Sik (7.2ha) and Baling (3.7ha).
In March, it was reported that Kedah was bent on getting the approval of the federal government for the state to export ketum leaves abroad, especially to Thailand.
Sanusi said the export of ketum leaves was rightfully curbed previously, as it had become a replacement substance for marijuana and other drugs, but the latest technology has found the leaves’ benefits, as they can be turned into health and medical products.
He added that the government had used financial resources and many civil servants to prevent ketum smuggling at the border when it could be addressed by allowing the commodity to be exported.
He said the Home Ministry should focus on the abuse of ketum leaves as a drink, which affects national health.
“The federal government should consider wisely. The ministry can obtain complete reports from the agencies under it for confirmation,” he said. – The Vibes, May 18, 2022
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